Bat Ayin shooter suspected to have been on drugs
Court remands arrest of two soldiers involved in violent clashes near Palestinian village on Saturday. Evidence one had used narcotics, other not authorized to handle firearm
The military prosecution rejected on Monday the claim that Sgt. David Alfasi and Cpl. Baruch Brendvin discharged the weapons they were carrying in self defense during the confrontation between settlers and Palestinians near the settlement of Bat Ayin on Saturday evening.
Furthermore, Ynet has learned, a test of Sgt. Alfasi's urine after his arrest at the scene of the skirmish
tested positive for either marijuana or hashish.
Cpl. Brendvin, who was investigated for drug-related offenses in the past, was not even authorized to carry a firearm.
"There are a lot of contradictions between the testimonies given by the suspects and the evidence in the case. Their description of the events surrounding the shooting incident were found to be inaccurate," said prosecutor Cpt. Guy Conforti at the military court. The court remanded the arrest of both suspects by three additional days.
The investigation of the clashes that took place between the settlement and the village of Hirbat Safa on Saturday is ongoing.
Military police are currently focusing on what is believed to be the beginning of the clashes when the two suspects, soldiers who reside in the settlement and who
were on leave at the time, discharged their weapons into the air. The shooting led to a riot in the area.
The two confessed to the shooting, and claimed they had only fired in self defense after Palestinians began hurling rocks towards them and towards a number of young children who were with them.
